Oropesa Cricket Club was founded in 2002, by Paul Liddiard and Ian Jordan, with the aim of helping to promote and develop the game of cricket in Spain. Located on the Costa Azahar on the east coast of Spain the squad is largely made up of English-based players who have visited Oropesa del Mar on holiday or own a property in the resort.

Oropesa played their first game on 14th November 2002 when they beat Norwood Exiles by 27 runs in London, England.Orpesa's first game on Spanish soil came on the 28th May 2003 when they crushed an Alfas midweek XI by 125 runs only to taste defeat 2 days later by 5 wickets at the hands of the Forty Club of Spain.

The Valencian Cup was played for the first time in 2003 when Oropesa returned to Spanish shores in November of that year.The cup went to Alfas in its first year with Oropesa being bowled out for 167 despite an unbeaten 69 by Liddiard.Alfas secured victory for the loss of only two wickets.

The following year the Cup was again played for in November, and again Alfas prevailed,but this time by the much closer margin of 56 runs. Alfas batting first scored 285 for 7 and Oropesa gave a spirited reply in their innings of 228 for 6.

2006 saw the Valencian Cup go to Oropesa for the first time and last month Oropesa retained the trophy in what was a great game of cricket at the Columbus Oval in Albir.

3 March OROPESA/SUTTON C.C. 272-7 SPORTING ALFAS C.C. 268-9

Oropesa/Sutton C.C. retain Valencian Cup

On a day that was made for the playing of cricket, two teams provided the spectators at the Columbus Oval with an afternoon of competitive cricket that resulted in some excellent entertainment and a thrilling finish.

The visitors had a number of Sutton C.C. players, whose Club won last year's Surrey Premier League title, within its ranks, which also included Minor County player Seadon. Their team will probably turn out to the strongest opposition that Sporting Alfas will encounter this season.

Alfas lost the toss and Oropesa/Sutton had no hesitation in electing to bat. After the loss of an early wicket to the bowling of Lupson, Lambe and Seadon added a century partnership for the second wicket. Lambe was in aggressive form and helped to maintain a rapid scoring rate, before the introduction of Crompton in to the bowling attack accounted for Seadon (39). The middle order batsmen all made useful contributions at a quick pace, with only Crompton, who claimed 2-22 from his eight overs maintaining control over the batsmen. Mercer, made thirty-four before Lambe (94), who was unlucky not to complete his century, fell to Grindey at the start of his second bowling spell. With Coombe contributing thirty, the final total reached an impressive 272-7. For Alfas, newcomer Grindey, making his first appearance for the Club, was the most successful bowler and claimed 3-52. Whilst the Alfas team had turned in a good fielding performance whilst under some pressure, the bowling was somewhat generally disappointing.

The Alfas innings initially took on a similar pattern to that of their visitors, when after the loss of n early wicket, the score at the halfway stage of the innings stood at 131-1, just four runs short of that which had be achieved by their opponents. For Alfas, Ali played a highly aggressive knock and, with the support of Crompton, 164 runs were added for the second wicket before Ali, having completed his century, was dismissed for 103. However, Ali's dismissal started a collapse and three wickets were lost for the addition of only thirteen runs, including that of Crompton who had contributed a very useful sixty-eight. The required run rate was maintained as Grindey held the innings together, as wickets fell around him at regular intervals. In an exciting finish, with eight runs required from the final over, Oropesa/Sutton C.C. claimed the Valencian Cup by a winning margin of four runs. For Alfas, Grindey completed an excellent first match for the Club by remaining undefeated with thirty-nine runs to his credit. The most successful bowlers for the visitors were Whiteman who claimed 3-52 and Seadon, who returned figures of 3-54.

The afternoon had provided a good test for the Alfas team, and one that should stand them in good stead for the rest of the season